South America island of fire. Sights of Argentina and Chile. Tierra del Fuego. Excursion to Antarctica

This is an archipelago in the south South America, separated from the mainland by the Strait of Magellan. In 1881 the archipelago, with total area 73.753 km. sq., was divided between Argentina and Chile. The eastern part belongs to Argentina (Terra del Fuego), where such big cities like Rio Grande and Ushuaia.

The western part belongs to Chile (Province of Magellan), and here the main cities are Porvenir and Puerto Williams. Cape Horn is located in the very south of the archipelago, in Chile.

General information about Tierra del Fuego

“Terra del Fuego”... This name was given to the archipelago by Ferdinand Magellan, who, sailing past the islands in 1520, noticed a number of fires on it along the entire coast. These fires could well have been caused by some actions of the Aboriginal people.

The islands were inhabited by the Ona, Alakaluf and Yagan peoples (more often called Yamans). In 1830, Robert Fitzroy took four Aborigines from Tierra del Fuego and brought them to Great Britain to show them to the king. The three survivors later returned to their homeland on HMS Beagle with Charles Darwin, who suggested that the indigenous Fuegians were the "missing link".

The arrival of missionaries, the development of sheep farming and the discovery of gold mines in the 1980s led to an influx of European, Argentine and Chilean immigrants who gradually destroyed the indigenous population of the islands. An excellent book about the history and collapse of the Yaman people, entitled The Land's End, was written by Lucas Bridges, the son of one of the earliest missionaries. His father, Thomas Bridges, studied the Yaman language and came to the conclusion that it contains many more words than the English dictionary.

Today the economic base consists of the oil industry, tourism, textiles and electronics, and, to a lesser extent, sheep farming.

The western part of the archipelago forms the southern edge mountain range The Andes, and its eastern part is the Patagonian Plateau. Southern Patagonia has a cold climate, but is warmer than many people think in winter average temperature air is -2o C.
In summer it can reach 30o C, but in reality it hardly reaches above 10 degrees. There are frequent gusts of strong wind and frequent downpours, especially in the coastal areas of the archipelago.

Ushuaia (Agrentina) – tourist centre Tierra del Fuego, and also the departure point for most excursions, hikes and trips to Antarctica. This is probably the most Southern City on the ground.

Rio Grande (Argentina) is the economic capital of the Argentine part of Tierra del Fuego, where oil production, textiles and livestock farming are widely developed.

Porvenir (Chile) is a small town connected to land through the Strait of Magellan.

Puerto Williams (Chile) is the only one locality on the island of Navarino and supposedly the southernmost city in the world.

How to get to Tierra del Fuego

Aerolineas Argentinas regularly operates flights from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia and Rio Grande. Airlines also have connections between other localities and the city of Puenta Arenas in Chile.

Bus services from all over Argentina arrive in Tierra del Fuego via Rio Gallegos. Please note that buses from Rio Gallegos to Ushuaia cross Chilean territory, meaning you will have to cross two borders.

Melinka ferries depart regularly to Porvenir and Punta Arenas, and a military vessel takes you to Ushuaia and the island of Navarin in Chile.

Traveling around the country

The roads in Tierra del Fuego are in poor condition and, unlike the possibility of traveling by train, there is no railway. Public transport there's not much here either. However, tours or transport can be pre-booked through the tourist office on the island. San Martin, Ushuaia. This service is available in most hostels. A taxi is another option to get, for example, from the city center to the airport or to the Glaciar Martial glacier, for approximately 7 Argentine dollars. You will also find several car and bike rental companies in Ushuaia.

Kitchen on Tierra del Fuego

The region's specialty is King Crab, centolla in Spanish, and the seafood is generally excellent. Otherwise, local kitchen similar to traditional cuisine of Chile and Argentina.

Fruits and vegetables are delivered here thousands of kilometers away, and therefore are rarely tasty.

Where to drink in Tierra del Fuego

Ushuaia has several bars and one nightclub.

Precautionary measures

Crime rates in Tierra del Fuego are very low.

If you are traveling to walking trip or for a walk in the mountains, be sure to have warm and waterproof clothes with you.

Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego – main island with an area of 48,000 km. sq., known as Isla Grande or Tierra del Fuego. The island is shaped like a triangle (its base is in the Beagle Channel), and its main cities, Ushuaia and Rio Grande, are located on the eastern Argentine side.

The five medium islands, numerous smaller islands, islets, and rocks of the archipelago include:
The islands south of the Beagle Channel are Oste, Navarino, Gordon, Londonderry, Stuart and Wolaston.

The western group of islands is Clarence Island, Desert Lands and Dawson Island.

Airplane tickets can be booked at the Aerolineas office in Ushuaia. All buses to Buenos Aires and other destinations (except Puerto Natales) stop in Rio Gallegos. It will be cheaper to get where you need to go with a transfer to Rio Gallegos.

When Magellan informed Charles V about columns of smoke on the large island, the king decided to give the latter the name Tierra del Fuego. It was smoke from the fires (the Indians called themselves “selk-nam” - people), who have lived here for more than 10 thousand years hunting guanacos. Soon after the first expedition (1879) to Tierra del Fuego, the state gave the local lands for sheep farming, thereby displacing the Indians. True, they quickly changed lines, because it is easier to catch a sheep than a fast guanaco. Later, gold was discovered in the center of the island, and the living space of the Indians was further reduced. So they gradually disappeared from the face of the earth.

Indians of Tierra del Fuego

“The sight of the Fuegians sitting on a wild, abandoned shore made an indelible impression on me. An image appeared before my eyes - this is how our ancestors sat long ago. These people were completely naked, their bodies were painted, tangled hair hung below their shoulders, their mouths were open in amazement, and a threat lurked in their eyes... I could have come from that brave monkey... or that old baboon... or from a savage , who takes pleasure in torturing his enemies and sacrifices the blood of animals. He kills babies without the slightest remorse, treats women as if they were slaves, he does not know what the rules of decency are and is completely dependent on absurd superstitions,” this is how Charles Darwin described the natives of Tierra del Fuego, who reached these places in 1832. ship "Beagle". The scientist was amazed by the primitive way of life of the savages and at first saw little humanity in them.

In the same time English explorer William Parker Snow, who visited Tierra del Fuego in 1855, described the local aborigines quite differently: “... many of the Fuegians living on the eastern islands have a pleasant and even attractive appearance. I understand that this goes against what Mr. Darwin described in his writings, but I am only talking about what I saw myself...” The scientist in his writings indicated that the Indians are familiar with the institution of family: “I witnessed manifestations of deep love and tenderness towards their children and towards each other.”

The way of life of the Indian tribes that once inhabited the territory of Tierra del Fuego, of course, could seem primitive and barbaric to any European of that time, nevertheless, they had their own culture, language and religion, which, unfortunately, remained poorly understood, because soon after the discovery of the archipelago, all its indigenous inhabitants died. Tough and hardy in relation to the harsh climate of their homeland, they found themselves helpless in the face of the diseases that the Europeans brought with them: measles and smallpox claimed the lives of thousands of natives. And what the disease did not do, the cruel treatment of the “new owners” of the earth completed. At the moment, there is not a single pure-blooded indigenous inhabitant of Tierra del Fuego: the last Indian of the She tribe died in 1974, and the last Yagan in 1999.

The Indians of Tierra del Fuego received the scientific name Fuegina. They are divided into several tribes: among which were the Canoe Indians (indigenas canoeros)-Yagans (Yamans) and alakaluf (kaveskar), who earned their living exclusively by fishing and gathering, Indians on foot (indios a pie)- she is Indians (selk-nam), hunted.

Tierra del Fuego is an island off the southern tip of South America, from which it is separated by the Strait of Magellan, as part of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago. In 1881, the island was divided between Argentina and Chile, which had previously laid claim to its entire territory. Its western part, with an area of 29,485 km² (61.43% of the island) with a population of 150,826 people (2002), is administratively part of Chile (Magallanes y la Antarctica-Chilena region). The eastern part, belonging to Argentina (the province of Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica and the South Atlantic islands), has an area of 18,507 km² (38.57% of the island) with a population of 100,900 people (2001). The island's area is 47,992 km², making it the 29th largest island in the world and approximately two-thirds the area of the archipelago. The island's two main cities, Ushuaia and Rio Grande, are located in the Argentine part of the island, and its most high peak, Mount Darwin (2488 m high) - in Chile. Also on the island there are the cities of Toluin (Argentine part) and Porvenir (Chilean part).

Tierra del Fuego is an archipelago of dozens of large and small islands located off south coast South America and belonging to Chile and Argentina. The islands are separated from the mainland and from one another by narrow winding straits. The easternmost and largest island is also called Tierra del Fuego. Landscape on Tierra del Fuego. The trees are inclined in the direction of the prevailing winds. Geologically and morphologically, the Tierra del Fuego archipelago serves as a continuation of the Andes and the Patagonian Plateau. Coasts western islands rocky and deeply cut by fjords, the eastern ones are flat and poorly dissected. The entire western part of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago is occupied by mountains up to 2400 m high. In the relief of the mountains, ancient and modern glacial forms in the form of piles of boulders, trough valleys, sheep's foreheads and dammed moraine lakes play an important role. Mountain ranges dissected by glaciers rise from the ocean itself, narrow winding fjords cut into their slopes. In the eastern part of the big island a vast plain stretched out. The climate of Tierra del Fuego is very humid, except in the extreme east. The archipelago is constantly exposed to harsh and humid southwesterly winds. Precipitation in the west falls up to 3000 mm per year, with drizzle prevailing, which occurs 300-330 days a year. In the east, precipitation decreases sharply. Temperatures are fairly low throughout the year, with little seasonal variation. We can say that the Tierra del Fuego archipelago is close to the tundra zone in summer temperatures, and subtropical in winter temperatures. Climatic conditions Tierra del Fuego, like the Southern Andes, is favorable for the development of glaciation. The snow line in the west lies at an altitude of 500 m and glaciers break off directly to the ocean, giving rise to icebergs. Mountain ranges covered with ice, and only isolated sharp peaks rise above its cover. In the narrow coastal strip, mainly in the western part of the archipelago, forests of evergreen and deciduous trees are common. Particularly characteristic are the southern beeches, the canelo (Drymis winteri) magnolia, which blooms with white fragrant flowers, and some conifers. The upper border of forest vegetation and the snow border almost merge with each other. In places above 500 m, and sometimes near the sea, forests give way to sparse mountain meadows without flowering plants, and peat bogs. In areas where constant strong winds blow, groups of rare and low, twisted trees and shrubs with “flag-shaped” crowns, inclined in the direction of the prevailing winds, grow. Animal world The archipelago of Tierra del Fuego and the region of Southern Africa is approximately the same and quite unique. Along with the guanaco, the blue fox, fox-like or Magellanic dog and many rodents are common there. Characterized by the endemic, underground-dwelling rodent tuco-tuco. There are numerous birds: parrots, hummingbirds, pikas, etc. The most common domestic animal is sheep. Sheep farming is the main occupation of the population. Ilex paraguaiensis). These forests are intensively cut down for their valuable araucaria wood. The fauna of the Brazilian Highlands is diverse, as it combines different types of landscapes. Forests, even close to populated areas, are inhabited by numerous monkeys, which cause great harm to gardens and crops; armadillos, anteaters, and rhea ostriches live in savannas. Common predators are pumas and jaguars. Birds abound everywhere, especially parrots and hummingbirds, and there are a lot of snakes and other reptiles. Number of people bitten by venomous snakes in Brazil
reaches 15,000 per year, and about a third of them die due to poor medical care. The numerous termite structures are very interesting. There are a lot of different ants in forests and savannas. Many of them settle near human habitation and cause great trouble to people. The territory of the Brazilian Highlands is unevenly populated and developed. Therefore, the degree of safety natural landscapes V different parts areas are different. The most populated area is adjacent to Atlantic Ocean. The largest cities and the largest areas of arable land are located there, on which valuable tropical crops are grown. Large areas are occupied by coffee plantations, sugar cane, orange groves and banana plantations, which play a huge role in the nutrition of the population. In the northeast of the region, cotton crops are common on irrigated lands. Natural vegetation in the Atlantic zone has been severely destroyed, with wet areas being the most affected. rainforests. In the interior of the region there are vast areas of virgin savannah, used only to a small extent for cattle breeding.

Information

Water area: Atlantic Ocean
Countries: Chile, Argentina
Square: 47,992 km²
Highest point: 2488 m
Population (2002): 110,000 people
Population density: 2,292 people/km²

Source. geographyofrussia.com

Those who want to go even to the ends of the world are unlikely to realize that they mean Tierra del Fuego. The archipelago is located in the very south of South America and has about 40 thousand islands of different sizes and shapes. This strange name the territory was given to the navigator. When in 1520 he sailed to the islands, he saw numerous Indian fires, which he mistook for volcanic vents.

Today, Tierra del Fuego is divided between two countries: Argentina and Chile. The first got the southern part, and the second the rest of the territory. Northern part The archipelago is in many ways similar to Patagonia, and further south the nature becomes poorer, mountain landscapes covered with glaciers appear. The climate here is quite cool throughout the year, so it is very difficult to call this archipelago a resort. Tierra del Fuego, despite this, attracts everyone every year more people those who want to be alone with nature, away from civilization.

No one will be bored here, because you can go fishing, go for a walk or go on a cruise. The guides have developed numerous routes along which you can go to the mountains to admire the surrounding landscapes. It is suggested to walk or ride horses or motorcycles. There are also ski slopes here, so fans of this sport will certainly enjoy Tierra del Fuego.

You can get acquainted with local architecture, historical and cultural monuments, admire the flora and fauna of these places. When planning to go on vacation, many tourists confuse the Earth's belt of fire with the southernmost archipelago due to similar names. The edge of the world differs in many ways from other places on the planet, so it’s really worth visiting here at least once.

You should definitely visit the regional museum Fin del Mundo and the museum located in the city prison, both are located in the southernmost city on the planet - Ushuaia. It is also recommended to take a boat trip along the Beagle Channel, named after Charles Darwin's ship. Tierra del Fuego gave the scientist the opportunity to conduct important research that became the basis of evolutionary theory. You should definitely go on a cruise to the islands inhabited by Arctic birds, Magellanic penguins. You can get a lot of impressions from walking around National Park, which has no analogues in the whole world.

Having visited the archipelago, it is worth going around Cape Horn, in the coastal waters of which the whole rests. This should be done from November to March, then the weather is not too stormy. It will be interesting to repeat the route of Charles Darwin; for this you need to hire a guide with a boat, having previously insured them and yourself at the same time. In restaurants you need to try the centolya dish, you won’t find anything like it anywhere else.

To confidently tell everyone that you have been to the very edge of the world, you need to go to Puerto Toro, a fishing village where about 50 old-timers live. Tierra del Fuego hides a lot of interesting things. To lift the veil of secrets, you just need to come here and get to know the local

(Spanish: Tierra del fuego) is an archipelago consisting of a thousand islands (more than 40 thousand) in the very south of South America, which ends with the mainland.

On the most southern point archipelago (and the Earth too), a sign is pinned up that officially proclaims this land “Fin del Mundo” - the End of the World!

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A little history

Millions of years ago, these harsh lands were one with eternal ice Antarctica, and now the gloomy rocky shores of the island are separated from Antarctica, that is, less than a thousand kilometers.

So why on earth did the archipelago get such a “hot” name? The reason for this is the illusion of the great Portuguese navigator, who was the first European to see these rugged shores.

During the first trip around the world in 1520, while sailing along the river named in his honor, connecting two oceans, Magellan saw an island with hundreds of lights lit along the shore, both on land and on water. Magellan mistook the lights for volcanic vents and therefore named the island Tierra del Fuego, but upon further research, no volcanoes were found on the island. The whole point was that the fires were lit by local Indians. They even lit fires in their boats when they went fishing at night, covering the bottom of the boat with earth. The constant support of fire is explained by the fact that without it the aborigines were cold, because... even in severe frost, most of the Indians remained practically naked.

Southern "end of the Earth"

In addition to the island, the entire archipelago is called Tierra del Fuego (otherwise known as Isla Grande). The archipelago includes more than 40 thousand small islands, which are located off the coast in the south of the South American continent.

The most large island archipelago is Isla Grande (48 thousand km²). Here is the southernmost city on the planet - Argentine. And on the island of Navarino there is the southernmost settlement on Earth - Puerto Torro, which belongs to. These two countries have been dividing Tierra del Fuego since 1881. The southern region of Isla Grande is under jurisdiction, and Chile owns the rest (about 61% of the archipelago). In the middle of the twentieth century. these states even almost quarreled over the small island separating Isla Grande from the rest of the islands. However, the Vatican managed to intervene in time and reconcile its Latin American Catholic neighbors.

Now the population of the archipelago is more than 250 thousand people. The bulk of the population lives in the Argentine Rio Grande (70 thousand people) and Ushuaia (60 thousand people), as well as the Chilean Porvenir (7 thousand people). Most of the inhabitants of Tierra del Fuego are labor migrants. And from spring to early autumn, due to tourists, the population of Tierra del Fuego almost doubles.

Due to heavy rainfall and a fairly cool climate, Tierra del Fuego can hardly be called a resort, because even at the height of summer the temperature here does not exceed 15°C. However, despite these, let’s face it, not entirely favorable weather, every year more and more people come here, dreaming of hiding from the bustle of civilization. Plus, it’s only from here that you can get to Antarctica, since all cruises start here. And on the island itself, we can say with complete confidence, there is something to see!